Nothing is temporary in the digital world and there is no delete button. Every little thing leaves a mark. Information is added to your online reputation whenever you send a text, post on a social network, or visit a website. And it becomes very easy for someone to copy or forward your information.
It is crucial to protect the privacy of personal and family information, because all personal information can be used by criminals for theft. This includes bank account numbers, social security numbers, credit card information, PINs, home addresses, email addresses, birthdays, current locations, and phone numbers. This article gives you three effective techniques to protect your online reputation.
An online reputation management company
If you discover potentially sensitive images or posts, or view any images or posts that are of concern, do not panic. Help is at hand these days. Simply contact an online reputation management company that can delete sensitive information or a post. While there are many ways to keep your online reputation safe, hiring an online reputation management company can also be a great option and one of the best ways.
It’s hard to protect your online reputation or edit potentially damaging images or posts without knowing what the Internet’s public arena has in store. Therefore, anyone with a digital footprint should conduct an individual Google search. Type your name into Google, follow the search, including images, and record any unusual discoveries.
Internet reputation companies can relieve you of the burden of regularly performing Internet reputation management tasks. These tasks include monitoring online activity and any threats or attacks against you. They can also remove links that may negatively impact your online presence. But it takes time to build your online reputation.
When you hire these companies, do your due diligence and verify their authenticity. Ask for references and testimonials before signing up for their services. Ask for online reputation protection success rates and costs. Investigate claims or complaints filed against the company.
Establish online privacy settings
We assume that our profiles created online are private. Unfortunately, most of the profiles created are public unless you change your settings. Privacy settings let you control who can access and when they can access your profile in apps and on websites. The controls available on many websites limit what information they can see about you.
Setting up your online privacy can help protect your reputation and data from criminals looking to commit a crime. When setting up your online privacy settings, get rid of public data sharing and limit access to digital posts, especially on social media. Use these settings because you only need to click some buttons.
The digital platform is a fertile ground for identity thieves. These are the places your potential employers and colleges can go when they want to check you out. Use the appropriate settings to block others from seeing posts and images you don’t want others to see. Such measures can also protect their data from online abusers.
It is not easy to control the information that others post about you. The platform will not remove them if the information does not violate the guidelines and is not offensive. But you can use privacy settings to prevent private information from appearing online. Social media platforms allow you to view photos in which you have been tagged.
Set up a Google alert
Google Alerts can notify you of any online activity associated with your name. Sign in to Google and go to the alert tabs in the upper right corner. It’s easy to set up Google Alerts if you follow your self-directed instructions. Then set it up using your full name when prompted. For business owners, use the business name.
You must set up Google alerts if you create podcasts, write blogs, speak publicly, or engage in any online activity that draws public attention to you. Alerts can track what people are saying about you in response to your posts or any other online activity.
If the alerts are positive, you can share or comment on them. If they are negative, you must react appropriately and put out the fire. By proactively following a Google alert with your name, you can control how the media perceives you.
You can cancel out negative media with positive material and broadcast or write about it yourself. You can keep negative press at bay by interviewing subject matter experts or appearing on a popular podcast. Or you can even start a new YouTube or Twitch video.
With Google Alerts, you can control much of your online reputation by leveraging and understanding market trends. And the possibilities are endless with the relevant information you collect about yourself through Google Alerts. That way, you manage your online reputation as and when they appear.
Read more Author: Steve Hughes
Categories: How to
Source: HIS Education